The telecommunication industry has
undergone a number of major changes over the last years.Convergence and the associated deployment of
Next-Generation Networks (NGNs) make a variety of audio, video, data and voice
services available over a single infrastructure. Broadband access is available
through different wireline and wireless technologies, particularly in remote
and rural areas. In this new reality there is a need to ensure that legal and
regulatory frameworks take into account the converged telecommunication/ICT
environment.

In
this respect we express our gratitude to ITUin the organization of the WCIT and for given opportunity to all
stakeholders to express their views and opinions on the content of the Draft of the future ITRs.

We propose
to include in the discussions on the content of the Draft of the future ITRs as
well the following points:

1.ICT accessibility for women

This is
Information Society era. Participation in the Information Society by means of
current and modern communication technologies offers the prospect of
significant and sizeable benefits. Everyone can benefit from the opportunities
that ICTs can offer. Disseminationoftelecommunication/ICTservicesinallregionssothatallsectionsofthesocietycan benefitfromthem,irrespective ofthe economicstatus oftheregion and population, this has to been a major goal in most countries around
the world.

The rural/urban
and rich/poor divides that characterize ICT development generally, have a
greater effect on women given that in developing countries the majority of
women live in rural areas.

WSIS, Geneva Plan of Action stated “Policies that create a favourable climate
for stability, predictability and fair competition at all levels should be
developed and implemented in a manner that not only attracts more private
investment for ICT infrastructure development but also enables universal
service obligations to be met in areas where traditional market conditions
fail to work. In disadvantaged areas, the establishment of ICT public access
points in places such as post offices, schools, libraries and archives, can
provide effective means for ensuring universal access to the infrastructure and
services of the Information Society.”

We believe, that WCIT would createopen
discussions and give right solutions in respectuniversal service obligations withcommunity access points to promote e-Inclusion, serving a broad
clientele, including the women, elderly, disabled and immigrant or other
challenged communities. Women are often not fully involved as agents and beneficiaries of these
processes. Women with
disabilities face significantly more difficulties, experience double
discrimination.

2.Child
protection

As the Internet
and other online resources continue to expand, the internet environment is
constantly changing, Internet usage amongst children is growing rapidly around
the world. Online technologies present many possibilities to communicate, learn
new skills, be creative and contribute
toestablishing a better society for
all, but often they also bring new risks , that can expose children and young
people to potential dangers like illegal content, viruses, harassment,the misuse ofpersonal data, etc.

We propose to include in Article 5
Confidence and security of telecommunications/ICTs, special points devoted to
online child protection,that will
protect children in cyberspace and promote their safe access to online
resources.